Method and apparatus for welding bellows constructions and the like

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for welding together the internal diameters of two bellows members wherein the apparatus has a frame means carrying an indexible table having a fixture thereon, the fixture being adapted to receive and hold the bellows members with the internal diameters thereof in a position for being welded together. The table is indexed to cause the fixture to move from a loading station thereof to a welding station thereof adjacent welding means carried by the frame means. Automatic means causes the welding together of the internal diameters of the bellows members with the welding means while the members are disposed at the welding station.

United States Patent 51 3,666,161 Keller May 30, 1972 [54] METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR 2,961,985 11/1960 OHarah ..228/l2 WELDING BELLOWS3,100,256 8/1963 Borg ..219/124 AND TIIE 3,123,903 3/1964 Flanagan..29/407 [72] Inventor: Anthony T. Keller, Pequannock, NJ. PrimaryExaminer-John F. Campbell Assistant Examiner-R. J. Craig [73] Asslgnee'RPbenshaw Controls Company Attorney-Auzville Jackson, Jr., Robert L.Marben and Canklchmond' dor, Candor & Tassone [22] Filed: Mar. 6, 1970[57] ABSTRACT [21} Appl. No.: 17,172

Method and apparatus for welding together the internal diameters of twobellows members wherein the apparatus has [52] U.S. Cl .228/12, 29/454,228/4, a frame means carrying an indexible table having a fixture 228/44thereon, the fixture being adapted to receive and hold the bel- [51 Int.Cl ..B23k 1/00 o m s i the internal diameters thereof n a p t o 58 Fieldof Search ..228/9, 12, 4, 5, 44; 219/124; for being welded together- Thetable is indexed to cause the 29 2 3 4 54 fixture to move from a loadingstation thereof to a welding station thereof adjacent welding meanscarried by the frame [56] References Cited means. Automatic means causesthe welding together of the internal diameters of the bellows memberswith the welding UNI E STATES PATENTS means while the members aredisposed at the welding station. 2,603,178 7/1952 Cahenzli, Jr. et a1...228/l2 X 12 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 30 IOZ 35 PATENTEnmYao 1972 3666 1 6 1 sum 2 or 8 INVENTOR. ANTHONY T. KELLER 'LMFM HIS ATTORNEYSPATENTED AY 30 I912 3,666,161

sum 3 or a FIG? INVENTOR. ANTHONY T. KELLER M,M$M

HIS ATTOR NEYS SHEET u 0F 8 PATENTEDMAY 30 m2 E m 7 m I m HIS ATTORNEYSPATENTEnmaolsvz 3,666,161

SHEET 5 or 8 INVENTOR. ANTHONY T. KELLER ww zm HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEUHAY30 1922 SHEET 8 OF 8 INVENTOR. ANTHONY T. KELLER HIS ATTORNEYSPATENTEnmYso I972 3,666,161

sum 7 or 8 INVENTOR. 82 ANTHONY T. KELLER 83 BY 86 W,QWFZM* HISATTORNEYS PATENTEDHAY 3 0 I972 SHEET 8 0F 8 m m \L NV 0 w s i m T I T3ZSINVENTOR. ANTHONY T. KELLER HIS ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FORWELDING BELLOWS CONSTRUCTIONS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to anapparatus and method for welding together the internal diameters of twobellows members or the like as well as to improved parts of suchapparatus and method.

It is well known that in the manufacturing of bellows constructions,subassemblies are formed from two bellows plates or discs having theinternal diameters thereof positioned together and being welded aroundthe same so that such subassembly can be subsequently welded to anothersuch subassembly at the outer diameters of the two adjacent bellowsmembers so as to produce a bellows stack that can subsequently have theopposed ends thereof closed.

However, no automatic equipment or method has been provided for weldingtogether the internal diameters of each subassembly of the two bellowsmembers as such operation was basically a hand operation.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, an automaticmethod and apparatus is provided for welding together the internaldiameter of such bellows members or the like.

Another feature of this invention is to provide improved means forholding the internal diameters of the bellows members together foreffecting an accurate weld therebetween.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an indexible arrangementfor moving a desired part from a loading station thereof to an operatingstation thereof in a simple and economical manner.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides an apparatusthat has a frame means carrying a rotatable or indexible member having aplurality of fixtures thereon, each fixture being adapted to receive andhold two bellows members with the internal diameters thereof in aposition for being welded together when such fixture is at a loadingstation. When the fixtures at the loading station have been loaded withthe bellows members, the operator causes an indexing means to index orrotate the indexible member to cause the loaded fixtures thereon to movefrom the loading station thereof to a welding station thereof adjacentcorresponding welding means carried by the frame means while thefixtures that were adjacent such welding means now move into the loadingstation area. When the loaded fixtures reach the welding station,automatic means causes the welding together of the internal diameters ofthe bellows members while such members are disposed at the weldingstation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to to provide an improvedmethod for welding together the internal diameters of two bellowsmembers or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus forwelding together the internal diameters of two bellows members or thelike.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved part of suchan apparatus or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method andapparatus for indexing a movable member of an apparatus or the like tomove a fixture thereon from a loading station to an operating station orthe like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the two bellows members andchill ring utilized to form the subassembly that is being made by themethod and apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the subassembly of the parts of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the subassemblies ofFIG. 3 being secured together at the outer diameters thereof to providea tubular bellows stack or construction.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front view of the improved apparatus of thisinvention for welding together the internal diameters of the two bellowsmembers of FIG. 1 to form the subassembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with parts of the apparatus beingtaken in cross section to illustrate the structure behind the same.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus and is takenon line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus and is takenon line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a front view of one of the fixtures of the apparatus of FIG. 5and illustrates the position of the welding torch when received thereinfor a welding operation.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 and is taken on line 10-10thereof.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the fixture of FIG. 9 and is takenon line 11-1 1 thereof.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates thefixture with new inserts therein to accommodate bellows members of adifferent size.

FIG. 13 is a wiring diagram to illustrate the operation of the apparatusof this invention.

FIG. 14 is a wiring diagram of the welding apparatus for operating thewelding torches of the apparatus of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adapted to weld the internaldiameters of two bellows members together, it is to be understood thatthe various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in anycombination thereof to provide methods, apparatus, and parts foroperating on other items as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the method and apparatus of thisinvention is adapted to provide the bellows subassembly generallyindicated by the reference numeral 20 in FIGS. 2 and 3 by automaticallywelding together the adjacent internal diameters 21 and 22 of twobellows members 23 and 24. The bellows members 23 and 24 are annulardiscs respec tively having transverse cross-sectional bowing slightlydifferent from each other whereby to insure that the substantiallystraight and flat internal diameters 21 and 22 thereof are properlypositioned to be welded together about the entire internal diameter areathereof in a manner hereinafter set forth, a conventional andsubsequently removable chill ring 25 has been disposed between thebellows members 23 and 24 at the outer diameters 26 and 27 thereof asillustrated in FIG. 3.

The subassemblies 20 are subsequently utilized to produce tubularbellows stacks or constructions 28 illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein eachsubassembly 20 is adapted to be welded to an adjacent subassembly 20 atadjacent outer diameters 26, 27 of adjacent bellows members 23 and 24 ofthe adjacent subassemblies 20 whereby it can be seen that the tubularbellows construction 28 is substantially a corrugated arrangement havingan interior chamber 29 therein which can be completely closed at thetops and bottoms thereof by conventional closing members in a mannerwell known in the art so as to be interconnected to a desire fluidsource, such as by a capillary tube.

As previously stated, the known methods and apparatus for forming thebellows subassembles 20 have been substantially hand operations whereinthe operator assembles together the parts 23, 24 and 25 of FIG. 1 into ahand fixture, then takes such loaded hand fixture to a lathe-likeapparatus and positions the fixture therein wherein the fixture isrotated relative to a welding torch that is positioned adjacent theinternal diameters thereof for welding together such internal diameters.After the internal diameters have been welded together, the operatorremoves the fixture from the lathe-like apparatus and unloads the sameso that a new set of parts can be loaded therein to be welded togetherin the manner previously described.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, the subassemblies20 are now formed in an automatic manner by the method and apparatus ofthis invention generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 in FIGS.5, 6, 7 and 8 in a manner hereinafter described.

The apparatus 30 of this invention comprises a frame means 31 rotatablycarrying an indexible member or rotatable table 32 having a horizontallydisposed shaft means 33 rotatably supported in the frame means 31 bysuitable bearing means, such as bearing means 34 in FIG. 7, whereby thetable 32 is vertically disposed and has a plurality of rotatablefixtures 35 thereon. The frame means 31 is so constructed and arrangedthat an operator can be seated in front of the apparatus 30 and thethree lower fixtures 35 of the table 32 will be in such a proximityrelative to the seated operator that the operator can load and unloadthe three lower fixtures 35 with the parts of FIG. 1 in a mannerhereinafter described at the same time that the three upper fixtures 35of FIG. are having the internal diameters of the subassemblies thereinwelded together by three welding torches 36 carried by the frame means31 in a manner hereinafter described.

After the operator has unloaded the three lower fixtures 35 of FIG. 5and has inserted the parts of FIG. 1 into each lower fixtures 35, in amanner hereinafter described, the operator then must close two manuallyoperated electrical switches 37 and 38 schematically illustrated in thewiring diagram 39 of F IG. 13 to cause the table 32 to index 180 wherebythe lower loaded fixtures 35 will be indexed adjacent the weldingtorches 36 and the former upper fixtures 35 will now be in a lowerposition. The three lower fixtures 35 of the indexible member 32 in FIG.5 are disposed at a loading station 40 of the apparatus whereas theupper three fixtures are disposed at a welding station 41 of theapparatus 30.

It is to be understood that while the apparatus 30 of this invention ishereinafter described and illustrated as being provided with threefixtures 35 to be loaded and unloaded at the welding station and withthree other fixtures 35 to be operated on at the welding station 41, thenumber of fixtures 35 can be varied as desired as will be apparenthereinafter.

Since each fixture 35 is constructed in the same manner as the otherfixtures 35, only one of the fixtures 35 will be described in detail andreference is now made to FIGS. 9, 10 and 1 1 wherein the fixture 35shown therein has a first clamping part or member 42 provided with ahollow shaft-like part 43 rotatably mounted in suitable bearing means 44of the table or indexible member 32 as illustrated in FIG. 10 wherebythe fixture 35 is rotatably mounted to the indexible member 32. Theshaft-like part 43 of the fixture 35 carries a pinion gear 45 at the end46 thereof which is adapted to be driven by a cooperating pinion gear 47in a manner hereinafter described when the fixture means 35 is disposedat the welding station 41 of the apparatus 30 and a welding operation istaking place whereby the fixture 35 will be rotated by the drive gear47.

The clamping member 42 has an insert 48 secured thereto by suitablefastening means 49 that, in effect, secure the parts 42, 43 and 48together, the insert 48 having an annular recess 50 in the outer surface51 thereof that defines an annular internal cylindrical shoulder orsurface 52 and an annular beveled clamping surface 53 adjacent acylindrical opening means 54 passing completely through the insert 48and being coaxially aligned with a cylindrical opening 55 passingcompletely through the part 43 of the first clamping member 42.

A second clamping member 56 is pivotally carried by the clamping member42 through a hinge pin arrangement 57 and is adapted to be disposed inits clamping position as illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein a surface 57thereof is disposed in abutting relation with a surface 58 of anotherpart 59 of the first clamping member 42 as illustrated in FIG. 10. Alatch member 60 is pivotally mounted to the clamping member 42 by apivot pin 61 and has a notch means 62 for receiving an end part 63 ofthe movable clamping member 56 therein to lock the same in its clampingposition as illustrated in FIG. 10, the latching member 60 being urgedto its latching position by a compression spring 64. However, theoperator can readily pivot the latching member 60 to the left in FIG. 10in opposition to the force of the compression spring 64 to free theclamping member 56 therefrom so that the clamping member 56 can be swungto an open position as illustrated by the lower most fixture 35 in FIG.5 so that the operator can assembly the parts 23, 24 and 25 into therecess 50 of the part 48 of the clamping member 42 as illustrated inFIG. 10 wherein the annular clamping surface 53 of the clamping member42 abuts against the bellows member 24 just inboard of and adjacent tothe internal diameter 22 thereof while the external diameters 27 and 26of the bellows members 24 and 23 are being guided and supported by theannular shoulder 52 of the part 48. Also, the internal diameters 21 and22 of the bellows members 23 and 24 when being inserted in the recess 50of the clamping member 42 are being telescoped onto centering portion 65of a plunger 66 disposed in the opening means 54 and 55 of the parts 48and 43 of the clamping member- 42 and being reciprocal therein in amanner hereinafter described. The centering portion 65 of the plunger 66has a frustoconical section 67 for guiding the bellows members 23 and 24thereon so that the same will be subsequently positioned on acylindrical portion 68 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 10 during theloading thereof into the fixture 35.

The movable clamping member 56 carries a movable insert 69 having itssurface 70 so constructed and arranged that the same cooperates with thesurface 51 of the part 48 of the clamping member 42 and defines abeveled annular clamping surface 71 adjacent an opening means 72 passingtherethrough with the clamping surface 71 being adapted to engage andclamp against the bellows member 23 adjacent to and just inboard of theinternal diameter 21 thereof.

The annular clamping surfaces 71 and 53 of the inserts 69 and 48 of theclamping members 56 and 42 are superimposed upon each other when theclamping member 56 is disposed in the clamping position as illustratedin FIG. 10.

The insert 69 of the clamping member 56 is interconnected to theclamping member 56 by lost motion members 73 each being secured to theinsert 69 and having an enlarged head 74 disposed in slot 75 of theclamping member 56 and being engagable against shoulder means 76thereof. A plurality of compression springs 77 are disposed between theclamping member 56 and the insert 69 to tend to take up the lost motiontherebetween and position the insert 69 away from the clamping member 56wherein the enlarged head 74 of the fastening member 73 are disposedagainst the shoulders 76. However, when the clamping member 56 is movedto its clamping position as illustrated in FIG. 10, the insert 69 ismoved toward the clamping member 56 in opposition to the force of thecompression springs 77 upon its engagement with the bellows member 23whereby the compression springs 77 maintain the bellows members 23 and24 under a clamping force between the knife-like annular clampingsurfaces 53 and 71 of the clamping members 56 and 42 when the same aredisposed in the clamping position as illustrated in FIG. 10. Thus, theplunger 66 can have its centering position 65 subsequently untelescopedand moved away from the bellows members 23 and 24 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 11 so that the welding tip 78 of a welding torch 36can be received in the opening means 72 and 54 of the inserts 69 and 48to perform a welding operation on the adjacent internal diameters 21 and22 of the bellows members 23 and 24 completely around the same in amanner hereinafter described.

The plunger 66 for each fixture 35 is normally moved to the positionillustrated in FIG. 11 away from the clamping surfaces 53 and 71 thereofby a compression spring 79 having one end 80 thereof bearing against theend 46 of the part 43 of the clamping member 42 and the other end 81thereof bearing against a retainer ring 82 carried at the end 83 of theplunger 66. However, when a fixture 35 is disposed at the loading andunloading station 40 of the apparatus 30, a piston rod 84 of a pistonand cylinder device 85 carried by the frame means 31 is adapted to beextended toward the plunger 66 to engage against a fitting 86 thereof atthe end 83 of the plunger 66 and move the same into its loading andunloading position illustrated in FIG. in opposition to the force of thecompression spring 79.

The fitting 86 for each plunger 66 is adapted to fluidly interconnect aflexible conduit 87 to a passage means 88 formed in the plunger 66 andleading to a transverse bore 89 thereof that is adapted to be alignablewith a passage means 90 in the part 59 in the clamping member 42 whenthe plunger 66 is disposed in its normally withdrawn position asillustrated in FIG. 11 whereby backup gas can be supplied through theconduit 87, fitting 86, plunger passage 88 and 89, and clamping memberpassage 90 to the space 91 between the clamping members 42 and 56 andsubsequently into the recess 72 of the insert 48 and through a pluralityof openings 92 formed through the clamping surface 53 of of the insert48 to the opening means 54 of the insert 48 to provide backup gas forthe welding operation, if needed.

Therefore, it can be seen that each fixture 35 is adapted to be readilyloaded with the parts for forming the subassembly in a simple andeffective manner wherein the internal diameters 21 and 22 of the bellowsmembers 23 and 24 are clamped together closely adjacent the internaldiameters 21 and 22 by the cooperating clamping surfaces 53 and 71 ofthe clamping members 42 and 56 and that the same are positivelypositioned therein by the positioning plunger 66 during the loadingoperation whereby the welding tip 78 of the welding torch 36 canaccurately weld the internal diameters 21 and 22 together in a mannerhereinafter described.

Once the subassembly 20 has been welded, and the particular fixture 35carrying the same has been indexed to the loading and unloading station40, the operation can open the clamping member 56 of the fixture 35 andsince the plunger 66 has been extended into the openings 54 and 72 ofthe clamping members 42 and 56 by the piston rod 84, the plunger 66facilitates the removal of the welded subassembly 20 from the fixture35.

If it is desired to utilize the apparatus for welding bellows members oflarger or smaller size than the bellow members 23 and 24, the inserts 48and 69 of each fixture can be easily changed to inserts of a differentsize, such as inserts 93 and 94 of FIG. 12, and the centering portion 65of the plunger 66 can be easily changed to a cooperating size, such asplunger portion 95 of FIG. 12. In this manner the fixtures 35 can beconverted to produce the clamping and welding operation on bellowsmembers 23' and 24 of a size different from the size of the bellowsmembers 23 and 24 previously described. Therefore, it can be seen thatthe method and apparatus of this invention is not limited to aparticular sized bellows subassembly 20.

The frame means 31 carries three drive motors 96 having their effectiveoutput shafts 97 respectively carrying the pinion gears 47 previouslydescribed which are to be utilized to drive the pinion gears 45 of thethree fixtures 35 at the welding station 41. In particular, each motor96 is mounted for sliding movement on a part 98 of the frame means 31 bya piston and cylinder arrangement 99 also carried by the frame means 31.Thus, when the piston and cylinder arrangements 99 are actuated toextend their piston rods 100 to the right in FIGS. 7 and 8, the motormount 101 of each motor 96 is axially moved to the right so that thepinion gear 47 thereof is axially moved into meshing engagement with agear 45 of a fixture 35 whereby the three fixtures 35 at the weldingstation 41 will be rotated relative to the indexible member or ratatabletable 32 during a welding operation in a manner hereinafter described.

Similarly, the welding torches 36 are mounted for sliding movement onthe frame means 31 of the apparatus 30 and are respectively moved backand forth relative to the rotatable table 32 by piston and cylinderunits 102 in a manner similar to the piston units 99 for the motors 96.

A main drive motor 103 is carried by the frame means 31 and has itsoutput shaft 104 driving a sprocket gear 105 which has a chain 106looped about the same and also looped around a pneumatically operateddrive clutch 107 mounted on the shaft means 33 of the rotatable table 32so that when the motor 103 is operating to drive the chain 106,operation of the clutch 107 will couple the drive motor 103 to the shaft33 to rotate the table 32 in a manner hereinafter described.

The rotatable table 32 carries two blocks 108 on the rear side 109'thereof with the blocks 108 respectively having ends 109 extendingbeyond the outer periphery 1 10 of the rotatable table 32. The end 109of each block 108 has a substantially frusto-conical opening 1 11interrupting the same and adapted to receive a mating, frusto-conicalcentering pin 112 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 to properlycenter the rotatable table 32 relative to the frame means 31, thecentering pin 112 being adapted to move inwardly and outwardly relativeto an associated block 108 by a piston and cylinder arrangement l 13.

A piston and cylinder shock absorber 114 is pivotally mounted to theframe means 31 by a pivot pin 115 (FIG. 6) and is adapted to have itscushioning piston rod 116 pivoted into the path of movement of eitherone of the blocks 108 of the rotatable table 32 by a piston and cylinderarrangement 1 17 in a manner hereinafter described.

An abutment member 118, FIG. 6, is pivotally mounted to the frame meansby a pivot pin 119 and is normally pivoted to the position illustratedin FIG. 6 by a tension spring 120, the abutment member 118 having anotch 121 for receiving the projecting part 109 of either block 108therein.

When the table 32 is to be indexed 180 from the position illustrated inFIG. 6, the clutch 107 is operated to cause the table 32 to begin torotate about 90 in a clockwise direction before the clutch means 107declutches from the shaft 33 thereof so that the inertia of movement ofthe table 32 continues to rotate the same. However, before the tablebegins to rotate, the centering pin 112 is withdrawn from its block 108and the shock absorber 1 14 is pivoted out of the path of movement ofthe right-hand block 108 in FIG. 6 so that after the right-hand block108 moves beyond the shock absorber 114, the shock absorber 114 can beagain pivoted back to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 so thatsubsequently when the new block 108 comes around the same will engageagainst the piston means 116 of the shock absorber 114 so that themomentum and rotational movement of the table 32 will be terminated bythe shock absorber 1 14.

In fact, after a block 108 has hit against the shock absorber 1 14 toterminate the clock-wise movement of the table 32, the table 32 wouldtend to move backwardly in a counterclockwise direction except that theother block 108 is restrained from moving beyond the notch 121 of thelatch member 118 because the block now on the left-hand side of thetable 32 in FIG. 6 had cammed past the lever 118 in opposition to theforce of the tension spring 120 a distance sufficient to permit the sameto be retained by the notch 121 of the latch member 118 when the nowright-hand block 108 contacts the shock absorber 114. Thus, the upwardforce of the shock absorber 1 14 maintains the left-hand block 108 ofFIG. 6 into the notch 121 of the latch member 1 18 so that the centeringpin 112 can now be received in the opening 111 of the left-hand block108 and positively center the table 32 relative to the frame means 31for a subsequent welding operation on the upper three fixtures 35thereof in the manner previously described.

It has been found that the centering pin arrangement 112 and shockabsorber arrangement 114 permits the table 32 to be indexed each timeand to place the fixtures 35 within the desired position relative to thetorches 36 within a respectable and repeatable accuracy of plus or minus0.002 of an inch.

The general operation of an apparatus 30 of this invention will now bedescribed with the more specific details of the operation being laterdescribed in connection with the electrical diagram 39 of FIG. 13.

With the table 32 disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, theoperator loads the three lower fixtures 35 at the loading station 40with the bellows parts 23, 24 and chill ring 25 in the manner previouslydescribed. He then closes the manual switches 37 and 38 (FIG. 13)whereby with the torches 36 in their out position, with the plungers 66in their out positions and with the motors 96 in their out positionrelative to the fixtures 35 as illustrated in FIG. 7, the centering pin112 is removed from its block 108 and the shock absorber 114 is removedfrom its block 108 so that the clutch 107 can clutch the drive motor 103to begin to rotate the table 32 in a clockwise in FIG. 5. As previouslydescribed, the drive motor 103 is declutched from the drive shaft 33 sothat the table 32 and its blocks 108 in cooperation with the shockabsorber 114 and centering pin 112 again accurately position the table32 in its new position so that the previously loaded three fixtures 35are now at the welding station 41 as illustrated in FIG. 5. At thistime, the motors 96 and torches 36 are automatically moved inwardlywhereby the motor gears 47 mesh with the gears 45 to begin to rotate thefixtures 35 and the welding tips 78 of the torches 36 are received inthe openings 72 and 54 of the clamping members 42 and 56 of the fixtures35 to weld the inner diameters 21 and 22 of the bellows members 23 and24 together as the bellows members 23 and 24 are rotated relative to thetorches 36 through an are greater than 360 to insure the complete weldaround the entire inner periphery of the subassembly 20. When thewelding operation is completed, the torches 36 and motors 96automatically move outwardly and remain in such out position until thetable 32 is again indexed by the operator. However, during the time thatthe welding operation is taking place on the upper three fixtures, theoperator has unloaded the lower three fixtures 35 at the station 40 andreloaded the same with new parts 23, 24, and 25 so that when the weldingoperation on the upper three fixtures 41 has terminated, the operatorcan again cause the table 32 to index 180 in the manner previouslydescribed. However, if the welding operation taking place at the station41 has not been completed at the time the operator desires to index thetable 32, he cannot cause the table to index until the welding operationat the station 41 has been completely terminated.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an automaticmethod and apparatus for providing the bellows subassemblies 20 in anefficient and economical manner.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a three phase 440 volt electrical power sourceis indicated by three wires 122,123, and 124 which are adapted to beinterconnected to the cooperating three wires 125, 126, and 127 for themain motor 103 when a master starter switch 128 is closed whereby themain drive motor 103 is continuously operated and a transformer means129 tapped to the wires 126 and 127 is now continuously operated toprovide a I I voltage power source at main leads L, and L, which supplya control panel of the apparatus 30 as illustrated by the diagram 39 inFIG. 13 as well as 1 volt current to the motors 96 so that the motors 96are also continuously operating once the master switch 128 is moved toits closed position.

With the power source leads L, and L now providing a power sourcethrough suitable fuses 130 and 131, a control panel indicating light 132is energized as the same is placed across the power source leads L, andL by leads 133 and 134. The indexing buttons 37 and 38 are respectivelydisposed in series by a lead 135 that is adapted to be interconnected bya lead 136 to the power source lead L, when the switch 36 is closed andinterconnected to a lead 137 when the switch 38 is closed, the lead 137being interconnected to one side of a relay 138 having the other sidethereof interconnected to the power source lead L, by a lead 139.

Assuming that the operator desires to now index the table 32, theoperator closes the switches 37 and 38 which energizes the relay 138which becomes self-holding because the same closes its contact 132Awhereby a lead 140 is interconnected by the closed contacts 132A to alead 141 that is interconnected by a lead 142 to a contact 143 of anormally closed limit switch 144 that has its other contact 145interconnected to the power source lead L, by a lead 146. The energizedrelay 138 also closes it contacts 1328 to place a relay 147 across thepower source leads L, and L the relay 147 now becoming also self-holdingas the same closes its normally opened contact 147A. The purpose ofrelay 147 is to keep the table 32 from indexing when the power is firstturned on, as will be apparent hereinafter.

With all three motors 96 and all three torches 36 being in the out"position, that is, away from the table 32, limit switches 148, 149, 150,151, 152 and 153 are in their closed position, whereas the limitswitches 154, 155, 156, 157, 158 and 159 are in their open position.Conversely, should the motors 96 and torches 36 be in their in"position, that is, in their innermost position towards the table 32, thelimit switches 154-159 will be closed and the limit switches 148-153would be opened.

However, with the limit switches 148-153 being disposed in their closedposition, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the now energized relay 147 closesits normally opened contacts 1478 to place the electrically operatedvalve means 160 for the lock and centering pin pneumatic cylinderarrangement 1 13 across the power source leads L, and L whereby fluid isdirected to the piston and cylinder arrangement 113 to cause the same towithdraw the lock pin 112 from the opening 111 in the block 108positioned therewith. Simultaneously, an electrically operated valvemeans 161 for operating the clutch 107 and an electrically operatedvalve means 162 for the cylinder arrangement l 17 for the shock absorber1 14 are energized with the closing of the relay contacts 1478 so thatthe drive motor 103 is clutched to the shaft 33 of the table 32 and theshock absorber 114 is moved out of the path of movement of the block 108adjacent thereto.

Thus, the table 32 now begins to index in a clockwise direction in FIG.6 relative to the frame means 31.

During such indexing of the table 32, the table 32 at about the time ithas been indexed about 90, momentarily actuates the limit switch 144 tomove the switch blade 163 thereof out of contact with the contact 143 sothat the relay 138 is now deenergized and the switch blade 163 is movedinto contact with the normally opened contact 164 to place a relay 165across the power source leads L, and L whereby the relay 165 thenbecomes self-holding as the same closes its normally opened contacts165A, the relay 165 being placed across the power source leads L, and Lthrough the closed limit switches 148-153 and closed relay contacts 1478of the relay 147. Normally closed contacts 165B of the relay 165 of thenow energized relay 165 open to thereby deenergize the valve means 162to cause the piston and cylinder arrangement 117 to again place theshock absorber 114 into the path of movement of the block 108 on themoving table 32, as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 6. The momentaryclosing of the limit switch 144 to energize the relay 165 also causes atimer 166 to be energized as the same is placed across the power sourceleads L, and L, by the now closed relay contacts 165A, closed limitswitches 148-153 and closed relay contacts 14713.

As the timer 166 is now running, the same runs out its time to open itsnormally closed contacts 166A to deenergize the valve means 161 for theclutch 107 whereby the clutch 107 can now disconnect the shaft 33 fromthe drive motor 103.

The block 108 of the table 32 now engages against the piston rod 1 16 ofthe shock absorber 1 14 so as to complete the index of the table 32 andprevent further rotation thereof in the manner previously described. Atthis time, the indexed table 32 closes a limit switch 167 whichenergizes a relay 168 by placing the same across the power source leadsL, and L since the relay 165 also has its normally opened contacts 165Cin a closed position thereof. Relay 168 now becomes self-holding becauseit closes its normally opened contacts 168A and normally closed contacts169A of a timer 169.

The energized relay 168 also closes its normally opened contacts 16815to now place a timer 170 across the power source leads L and L Theoperation of the timer 170 now opens normally closed contacts 170A todeenergize the electrically operated valve 160 for the lock pin, pistonand cylinder arrangement 1 13, whereby the piston and cylinderarrangement 1 13 now causes the centering pin 112 to enter into theopening 111 of the block 108 positioned adjacent thereto to fully centerand lock the table 32 relative to the frame means 31 in the mannerpreviously described.

Operation of the timer 170 also causes it to close its normally openedcontacts 1708 to energize a timer 171 by placing the same across powersource leads L, and L to now close contacts 1708 and 1688.

Energized timer 171 now closes its normally open contacts 171A, whichenergizes an electrically operated valve means 172 that operates thepiston and cylinder arrangements 99 and 102 for the motors 96 andtorches 36 to move the motors 96 and torches 36 inwardly toward thetable 32 to respectively place the drive gears 47 into meshing relationwith the gears 45 of the fixtures 35 at the welding station 41 and thetips 78 of the torches 36 adjacent the internal diameters of theassemblies of the fixtures 35 disposed at the welding station 41.Energized valve means 172 also operates the piston and cylinderarrangements 85 to extend their rods 84 and thereby extend the plungers66 of the lower fixtures 35 into their loading and unloading positionsas illustrated in FIG. 10.

When the three motors 96 and three torches 36 are now in their innermostposition, as previously described, the limit switches 148-153 open andthe limit switches 154-159 are closed so that relay 173 is placed acrossthe power source leads L, and L through the normally closed contacts 174of a selector switch 175 and normally closed contacts 169B of the timer169. Energized relay 173 now closes its normally opened contacts 173A,1738 and 173C of FIG. 14 to give a signal to the welding equipment 174'for each torch 36 to turn on and produce a welding heliarc for weldingthe inner diameters 21 and 22 of the bellows members 23 and 24 togetheras the fixtures 35 rotate relative to the torches 36. A red light 175'is also energized through the closed limit switches 154-159 and thenormally closed contacts 174 of the selector switch 175 to indicate thata welding operation is taking place at the upper fixtures 35. Thepreviously described timer 169 is also energized through the now closedlimit switches 154-159 and normally closed contacts 174 of the selectorswitch 175 and when timed out opens the normally closed contacts 169B todeenergize the relay 173 and therefore open the contacts 173A, 1738 and173C to terminate the operation of the torches 36.

When the timer 169 times out, it will open its normally closed contacts169A. However, no further operation for the apparatus now takes placebecause normally closed contacts 132C of the relay 132 maintain therelay 168 energized across the power source leads L and 1., even thoughthe normally closed timer contacts 169A are now in an open position.

The table 32 now remains in this position until the operator hasunloaded and reloaded the lower three fixtures 35 in the mannerpreviously described at the loading station thereof and then againcloses the main switches 37 and 38 to initiate a new indexing of thetable 32.

When the operator now desires to again index the table 32, the operatorpushes in on the switches 37 and 38 which now energizes relay 138placing the same across power source leads L, and L in the mannerpreviously described. Energized relay 138 not only closes its normallyopened contacts 132A to make itself self holding in the mannerpreviously described, but the same now opens its normally closedcontacts 132C to deenergize the relay 168 which opens its normallyopened contacts 1688 so that the timers 170 and 171 can be deenergized.Opening of the contacts 171A deenergizes valve means 172 so as to causethe piston and cylinder arrangements 99 and 102 for the motors 96 andtorches 36 to move the same outwardly while causing the cylinders 85 forthe plunger 66 of the lower fixtures 35 to move the piston rods 84 tothe left in FIG. 8 and thereby retract the centering portions 65 of theplunger 66 from the bellows members 23 and 24 are the lower threefixtures 35.

The outward movement of the motors 96 and torches 36 causes the limitswitches 154-159 to open although the timer 196 remains energizedthrough its closed contacts 169C which is interconnected by a lead 176to the lead 141 at the juncture of the lead 141 with the lead 142.

When the motors 96 and torches 36 have moved completely outwardly awayfrom the table 32, the same close the limit switches 148-153 whereby theclosing of the limit switches 148-153 whereby the closing of the limitswitches 148-153 initiates a new indexing operation through theoperation of the valve means -162 in the manner previously describedexcept that momentary operation of the switch 144 as the table 32 isrotated in addition to the deenergizing of relay 132 as previouslydescribed also serves to deenergize the timer motor 169 so that it canbe reset in the manner previously described.

Should it be desired that when the master switch 128 previouslydescribed is initially turned on to check whether the torches 36 will bein proper position within the fixtures 35, the operator can operate theselector switch of FIG. 13 to move the normally opened contact section176' thereof to a closed position while simultaneously opening thecontacts 174 whereby the valve means 172 will be placed across the powersource leads L, and L by the now closed contact means 177 of theselector switch 175 to move the motors 96 and welding torches 36inwardly toward the table 32 for such checking purposes. However, uponthe release of the switch 175 back to the full line position illustratedin FIG. 13, the valve means 172 is deenergized so that the torches 36and motors 96 are caused to move back outwardly in the manner previouslydescribed.

Therefore, it can be seen that not only does the structure of theapparatus 30 operate in the manner previously described, but also theelectrical circuit 39 for such apparatus renders the same fullyautomatic to accomplish the welding purposes previously described.

Therefore, not only does this invention provide an improved apparatusand method for automatically welding together the inner diameter ofbellows members as previously set forth, but also this inventionprovides improved parts and method steps of such apparatus and methods.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been described asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be utilized all coming withinthe scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for welding together the internal diameters of two bellowsmembers comprising a frame means carrying an indexible member having afixture thereon, said fixture being adapted to axially receive and holdsaid bellows members with said internal diameters thereof in positionfor being welded together, welding means carried by said frame means,indexing means for indexing said indexible member to cause said fixturethereof to move from a loading station thereof to a welding stationthereof adjacent said welding means, and automatic means for weldingtogether said internal diameters of said bellows members while saidmembers are disposed at said welding station, said fixture having a pairof clamping means one of which is movable toward and away from the otherclamping means to respectively open and close said other clamping means,said one clamping means when moved away from said other clamping meanspermitting said bellow members to be axially received in said otherclamping means, said one clamping means when thereafter moved towardsaid other clamping means clamping said axially loaded bellows memberstherebetween to hold the same with said internal diameters in positionfor being welded together.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said automatic meanscomprises positioning means for causing relative movement between saidfixture and said welding means to position said welding means forwelding said internal diametem of said bellows members, and rotatingmeans for causing relative rotational movement between said weldingmeans and said bellows members to weld around the entire internaldiameters of said bellows members.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said welding meanscomprises a welding torch having a welding tip, said positioning meanscausing said torch to move toward said fixture to position said weldingtip adjacent said internal diameters of said bellows members.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rotating means rotatessaid fixture relative to said indexible member and relative to saidwelding torch.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indexible member isrotatably carried by said frame means whereby said indexing meansrotates said indexible member relative to said ame means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said indexible member isrotated approximately 180 between said loading station and said weldingstation.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indexible membercarries a plurality of said fixtures.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping means clampsaid bellows members adjacent said internal diameters thereof to holdsaid bellows members together.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said clamping means of saidfixture engage each of said bellows members substantially completelyaround the same adjacent said internal diameters thereof.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said fixture has a movableplunger, plunger operating means carried by said frame means for movingsaid plunger to a bellows member loading position in said fixturewhereby said bellows members can be axially inserted on said plunger atthe internal diameters thereof when said fixture is disposed at saidloading station and said one clamping means is disposed away from saidother clamping means and for moving said plunger away from said internaldiameters of said bellows members so that said internal diameters can bewelded together at said welding station of said fixture.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one clamping means ishinged to said other clamping means to provide for the opening andclosing movement relative thereto.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said one clamping meansis spring urged toward said other clamping means when said one clampingmeans is closed relative to said other clamping means, said fixturehaving locking means for locking said one clamping means in its closedposition relative to said other clamping means.

1. Apparatus for welding together the internal diameters of two bellowsmembers comprising a frame means carrying an indexible member having afixture thereon, said fixture being adapted to axially receive and holdsaid bellows members with said internal diameters thereof in positionfor being welded together, welding means carried by said frame means,indexing means for indexing said indexible member to cause said fixturethereof to move from a loading station thereof to a welding stationthereof adjacent said welding means, and automatic means for weldingtogether said internal diameters of said bellows members while saidmembers are disposed at said welding station, said fixture having a pairof clamping means one of which is movable toward and away from the otherclamping means to respectively open and close said other clamping means,said one clamping means when moved away from said other clamping meanspermitting said bellow members to be axially received in said otherclamping means, said one clamping means when thereafter moved towardsaid other clamping means clamping said axially loaded bellows memberstherebetween to hold the same with said internal diameters in positionfor being welded together.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid automatic means comprises positioning means for causing relativemovement between said fixture and said welding means to position saidwelding means for welding said internal diameters of said bellowsmembers, and rotating means for causing relative rotational movementbetween said welding means and said bellows members to weld around theentire internal diameters of said bellows members.
 3. Apparatus as setforth in claim 2 wherein said welding means comprises a welding torchhaving a welding tip, said positioning means causing said torch to movetoward said fixture to position said welding tip adjacent said internaldiameters of said bellows members.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3wherein said rotating means rotates said fixture relative to saidindexible memBer and relative to said welding torch.
 5. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said indexible member is rotatably carried bysaid frame means whereby said indexing means rotates said indexiblemember relative to said frame means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim5 wherein said indexible member is rotated approximately 180* betweensaid loading station and said welding station.
 7. Apparatus as set forthin claim 1 wherein said indexible member carries a plurality of saidfixtures.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clampingmeans clamp said bellows members adjacent said internal diametersthereof to hold said bellows members together.
 9. Apparatus as set forthin claim 8 wherein said clamping means of said fixture engage each ofsaid bellows members substantially completely around the same adjacentsaid internal diameters thereof.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8wherein said fixture has a movable plunger, plunger operating meanscarried by said frame means for moving said plunger to a bellows memberloading position in said fixture whereby said bellows members can beaxially inserted on said plunger at the internal diameters thereof whensaid fixture is disposed at said loading station and said one clampingmeans is disposed away from said other clamping means and for movingsaid plunger away from said internal diameters of said bellows membersso that said internal diameters can be welded together at said weldingstation of said fixture.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid one clamping means is hinged to said other clamping means toprovide for the opening and closing movement relative thereto. 12.Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said one clamping means isspring urged toward said other clamping means when said one clampingmeans is closed relative to said other clamping means, said fixturehaving locking means for locking said one clamping means in its closedposition relative to said other clamping means.